Composite printing apparatus for



J. H. SPRAY April 4; 1939.

COMPOSITE PRINTING APPARATUS FOR MOTION PICTURE FILM Filed Feb. 18, 1936 INVENTOR Jam:

1111 H. Sprag BY W ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMPOSITE PRINTING APPARATUS FOR MOTION PICTURE FIIM Application February 18, 1936, Serial No. 64,518

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the production of motion picture positive prints, and particularly to the printing of positive prints wherein a title, which may be dialogue or explanatory words, appears simultaneously in the frame with the picture. Such prints are particularly desirable for use in countries foreign to the one in which the talking motion picture was made, as. they considerably facilitate understanding and increase the interest of the story by the visual translation of the sound during the picture action. These titles may be repeated in several languages simultaneously, and they may or may not be accompanied by sound. They may be located at the top, sides, or bottom of the picture frames to which they relate.

Title printing of the above type has hithertofore been made by such methods as double printing wherein the titles are simply printed over or superimposed upon the pictures. Other methods have been also employed to produce title prints, one such method and appaartus for so doing being disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 12,203, filed March 21, 1935.

In the above-mentioned application, I have disclosed the fundamental principles of the present application which comprise, in brief, the reservation of certain portions of the frames in whichthe titles are to appear and the printing of the titles in these portions, usually with transparent letters on a black background, although opaque letters on a transparent background may also be used. This type of title print is superior to the superimposed print where the titles may blend with the background and become unreadable.

The apparatus described in this co-pending application utilizes a mask or mat in the picture printing aperture controlled by notches in the edge of a title negative. The picture may be printedfirst with the reserved space blockedv out by the mask or mat and then the title printed in this space in a second operation through a title printing aperture substantially the size of the mask, or the process may be reversed, the titles being printed first and then the pictures printed subsequently. This method required two operations, that is, it required running the raw positive stock through the printing machine twice while alternating the printing apertures.

The present invention contemplates completing the entire printing process in one operation by one run through the printer. Another advantage cf the printer of this invention is the better utilisation of material such as the title film. In the present system one title frame is used for the printing of the complete series shown on the final print, the title negative being advanced only one frame for the next series of titles. Formerly the title negative was the same length as the final print while with the present invention the title negative has only one frame for each title.

Although the general method of operation is similar to that disclosed in my co-pending application, the present invention saves more than half the time formerly required, and a considerable saving in title negatives. The detailsof the invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. Referring now to the drawing, which is a diagrammatic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, a negative picture film 5 is supplied from a reel 6, and is taken up by a reel I after passing through the picture printing apparatus. Similarly, a blank positive film 9 is supplied from a reel l0, makes a right angle turn at the loop I l, and is taken up by reel l2. These films are guided and driven through the apparatus by rollers or sprockets at l5, l6, ll, l8, I9, and 2|, in the usual manner. The emulsion sides of the picture negative 5 and the positive stock 9, are brought in contact with one another and remain in contact while intermittently driven through a printing aperture 22 by 'a pull down mechanism diagrammatically indicated at 23, which is. well known in the motion picture art.

To better illustrate the operation of the system at the picture printinggate, the films 5 and 9 have been broken immediately above and below the printing aperture 22, while the pressure plate employed for ensuring film contact has not been shown. The size of the printing aperture is reduced or restricted by a rectangular mat or mask 24 integral with, or as a separate element attached to an arm 25 which is pivoted at 26 and under tension of a spring 21. This spring tends to pull the mask in and maintain it in the aperture 22.

The position of the mask 24 is controlled by a pawl and ratchet mechanism consisting of a slotted wheel 29 keyed to a ratchet 30, a pawl 3|, an arm 32 under tension of a spring 33, and a roller 34 attached to the arm 25. The pawl 3i is operated by an armature 31 actuated by a solenoid 38, the connection between the pawl and the armature being an extension arm 39. The solenoid 38 is energized over apair of conductors 48 having a switch 4| and energy source 42 therein, the conductors being connected to a breaker box 45 with its film wheel 48. This breaker box may be of any well known type. Its operation is controlled by a film 48 which is supplied from a reel 49, and taken up by a reel 88, and which is run at the same speed as films 5 and 8. As shown, film 48 has been previously indexed, asv at 5|, by cutting notches along the edge thereof for operating the breaker box 45 to control the mask 24 as follows:

With the switch 4| in closed position, the breaker box 45 makes contact and energizes the solenoid 38 when the wheel 45 drops into a notch on the film. This energization oi the solenoid causes the pawl 8| to turn the ratchet 88 and the wheel 29 one division. If the mask is already in the printing aperture, as shown in the drawing, this impulse raises the mask 24 by placing the roller 84 on one of the extended portions of the wheel 28, and simultaneously drops the free end of the arm 82 into one of the notches of the wheel. This latter action prevents the wheel 28 from rotating and consequently maintains the mask 24 out of the printing aperture since the roller 84 must remain on the extended portion of the wheel. Upon de-energization of the solenoid 88, the armature 81 drops and the pawl 2| is lowered to the next succeeding notch of the ratchet 88. When the films have been run until another notch operates the breaker box 45, the mask 24 is dropped into the aperture 22 by the turning of the ratchet 38 and wheel 28 another division, which permits the roller 84 to drop into a notch and places the arm 32 on an extended portion of the wheel 28.

The above description pertains to the apparatus for placing the mask 24 in and out of the aperture 22. Simultaneously with this operation, the usual printing light control is accomplished through well known apparatus with or without lenses 53, but including a printing lamp 54, an energy source 55, a switch 55, a variable resistance control box 51, a breaker box 58, an energy supply 68, and a switch 5|. The breaker box 58 is actuated by notches 52 in the picture negative which are placed therein in accordance with variations or changes in density of the diflerent scenes which comprise the negative to be printed. The variable resistance box shown at 51 may be any type well known in the art having a series of resistance positions for varying the intensity of lamp 54 as contact is made or broken at box 58.

With the apparatus just described, the picture portion of the frames are printed, the entire frame being printed with the picture unless the mask has been inserted in the aperture by control film 48. I will now describe the apparatus for and method of printing the title portions simultaneously with that of the pictures.

A title negative film 63 having either opaque letters on a transparent background, or transparent letters on an opaque background, is fed from a reel 64 and is taken up by a reel 55, after passing through an aperture 68. The film 88 has a different title on each frame and is advanced by a sprocket 61 keyed to one plate of a disc clutch mechanism 58. The driving disc of the clutch 68 is connected through gears 59 to the main drive as shown at I8. While the film 88 is thus arranged to be continuously driven, it is checked by apparatus which allows it to move but one frame at a time. A disc 18 having a plurality of stops 1 I positioned thereon is keyed to the drive sprocket 81. The stops H are spaced to allow the sprocket 6'! to advance the film one frame at a time through a pawl type of escapement 12 which is actuated by a solenoid T3.

The advancement of the film. 53 is controlled by the film 48 through notches l4, breaker box 15 with its contact wheel 16, over conductors 11 to the solenoid 18. A switch 18 and energy source 18 complete the electrical circuit. With the switch 18 in closed position, actuation of the es capement for one step is obtained by the wheel 18 contacting a notch 14 thus allowing the sprocket B1 to advance the title negative one frame.

The printing of the title on the sensitized positive film 9 is accomplished at a printing aperture 88 through an optical system consisting of lenses 8|, a prism 82, lenses 83, and a lamp 84. This printing aperture is substantially the same size as the mat 24 which decreases the size of the picture aperture when that portion of the sensitized positive film 9 upon which the titles have been projected reaches the picture aperture. An intermittent film moving mechanism diagrammatically indicated at 83 is provided to intermittently move film 8 across the aperture 80. The title printing operation has been shown ahead of the picture printing operation, although it is to be understood that the sequence may be reversed.

The title printing lamp 84 is energized by an energy supply 88 when the switch 85 is in the closed position. A title control box 85 may be similar to the control 51 for the picture so as to print the title with a density to correspond to that of the picture it is to accompany. The breaker box 15 also has a contact wheel 81 which controls the lamp. circuit by means of the notches 5| on the film 48. The mechanism is arranged so that one notch energizes the lamp and the next one de-energizes it.

It will be noted that the notches 5| in the film 48 serve two purposes. First, by operating breaker box 15, they energize the lamp 84 to print the titles at the aperture 80, and second, through breaker box 45, they control the mask 24 in the h picture printing aperture 22. To accomplish this, the film distance between breaker box 15 and box 45 is the same as the film distance between aperture and aperture 22. After a title has been exposed on the positive stock, the mask 24 drops into position to block the title area as soon as that title appears at the aperture 22 Similarly, when a notch 5| de-energizes lamp 84 and later energizes the solenoid 38, the mask 24 is raised and the full aperture is utilized for picture printing.

The positive stock may also have a sound track printed thereon from a sound track negative 88 supplied irom a reel 88 and taken up by a reel 8|, in the usual manner. The positive stock and sound track negative are run in contact with each other past a sound track aperture in the usual manner, a printing light housing being shown at 82.

The system just described provides a printer which completes in one run therethrough three printing operations. That is, a title is printed on certain frames the titles having either an opaque or transparent background occupying a definite area of each frame, the picture is printed on all frames but just on the unexposed portion of each picture frame upon which the titles have been printed, and then the sound may be printed if desired. The present invention also shortens the title negative very materially while the control film may be scrap stock not suitable for other uses.

Although the above described embodiment of the invention employs negative picture, title, and sound films, to produce a final positive film, it is to be understood that positive picture, title and sound films may be employed to produce a final negative film. Furthermore, the expression means for advancing said title film one frame at p edetermined intervals determined by said control film, a title printing gate having atitle printing aperture under control of said control film, a picturev printing gate having an aperture, and means associated with said picture printing gate for decreasing the aperture thereof by an amount 'comparablein size to that of said title printing aperture, said last mentioned means being under control of said control film. I

2. A picture and title printer comprising a pas!- tive film, a negative picture film, a negative title film, a control film, a sound negative film, means for advancing said picture negative film and said positive film in contact past a picture printing aperture, means for advancing said positive film and said sound negative film in contact past a sound printing aperture, means for projecting titles on said title film to said positive film at a title printing aperture, means under control of said controlfilm for projecting said titles to said positive film at predetermined intervals, means under the control of said control film for eliminating the printing of said picture on that portion of said ositive film upon which said titles have been printed, and means under control or said control film for advancing said title film one frame at predetermined intervals.

3. A film printer comprising means for advancing a picture negative film intermittently through a picture gate aperture, means for intermittently advancing a positive film" serially through a title gate aperture and said picture gate aperture, said negative and positive films being in contact at said picture gate aperture, means for advancing a title negative .jfilm at predetermined intervals. means for projecting images ,of the titles on said title negative to said positive film, means for advancing a control film simultaneously with the advancement of said picture negative film and said positive film, means interconnecting said control film and said picture gate for decreasing the size of said picture aperture at predetermined intervals, and means interconnecting said control film and said title projection means for controlling the exposure of said titles on said positive film.

4. A film printer in accordance with claim 3 in which said title gate aperture is substantially the same size as the decrease in size of said picture aperture, the decrease in size occurring for that part of the positive film exposed to said title images.

5. A film printer in accordance with claim 3 in which said interconnecting means between said control film and said title printing means includes means for energizing and de-energizing said printing means, each energization being at a certain predetermined value.

6. An apparatus for printing pictures on successive frames of a sensitive film while printing titles for said pictures on predetermined ones of said frames'incombination with said pictures, which comprises the combination of means for optically printing a title from a title film on a portion of each of said predetermined frames, means for contact printing a picture on the other portions of said frames and common means independent of said printing means for controlling the operation of both 01' said printing means, said common means comprising a control film, an electrically operated stepping mechanism for the title film controlled by said control film, and an electrically operated title shutter for the sensitive film controlled by said control film.

' JOSEPH H. SPRAY. 

